Process and apparatus for drying pottery



2 .Sheets-Sh-eet 2 J. L. BUCKLEY PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING POTTERY Cross Referencel Filed Mfay 26,

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Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JGSEPH L. BUCKLEY, 0F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO PROCTOR & SCHWARTZ, INC., 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA., A OOR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

YROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING- POTTERY.

Application led May 26, 1920. Serial N0. 384,427.

1 ments in a process and apparatus for drying clay bodies,

particularly those o f a delicate nature,

prior to their insertionvin 1 One object of the invention is to prevent discoloration and the cracking and warping of the articles being dried. y

A further object of the invention is to Vprotect the ware from dirt and foreign particles while being dried.

A still 4further object of the invention is toxproduce an article having a fine and soft texture atl the surface that is not in contact with the mold when the ware is dried on a mold.

z5 These objects I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanyingr drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a tray, showing the article to be dried enclosedin a casing;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view, partly in sect-ion, illustrating loneform of drier to 3' which my invention can be applied;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a modification;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device shown lin Fig. 4; l

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another modification; and

' Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the cas- 'ing made yof reinforced plaster Paris.

In the manufacture of clay articles,and particularly high grade pottery. the clay article a is formed on a mold b, Fig. 1. and isdried while on the mold, the mold being made of plaster Paris. draws the moisture from that, portion of the article next to the mold, but, as the opposite side of the article is exposed to the direct action of heated air, it has a tendency to discolor and crack, and, in somel instances, the article will warp. Furthermore, a thin film will be formed on the article, which is objectionable and' must be removed before the article is placed in the kiln.

- I overcome the above defects in the drying process by enclosing the article and the mold 1n -a casing, preferably having a top plate .of plaster Paris, or other absorbent material, so that when subjected to hot air the enclosing casing will act in the same manner as the mold. Y

fiefer'ringto Figs. 1 and 2,1 is a tray, which may be of any length -desired to hold an article, or a series of articles. This'tray is perfprated or is'made of slats, to allow heated air to pass throughit. bis a mold and a is the clay article, in the present instance, a plate, formed on the m'old.- 2 is 'a' casing consisting, in the present instance, of a'netallic ring 3 and a cover plate 4to-f plaster Paris1 or other absorbent material- The' ring 3 is preferably perforated at the lower edge, as'shown in Fig. 1, so as to allow the air to circulate freely under the mold.

Located on the inner side of the ring is a band 5 of felt, or other suitable material,V

and the ring is so proportioned in respect to the mold that the felt; 'band closes the space between the two. When the tray. with the mold and casing thereon, is subjected to heat, the plaster Paris mold' and the plaster Paris cover plate draw the moisture from the article c without the heated air circulating` in direct contact with the article, avoiding cracking and warping, and preventing a film being formed on the back of the article` and also preventing discoloration.

The article is protected from dirt and other foreign matter-;during the drying process, and the surface of the finished article has a fine and soft texture.

My invention is especially applicable for use in driers for pottery, such as that i1- 4lustrated in Fig. 3, in which 6 is acasing of a drier. 7 is an endless conveyer passing .around a sprocket wheel 8; Pivotally mounted on the conveyer is a series of trays 1. 9 is a circulating fanV and 10 are heating.r pipes.

As the articles are carried through the drier, they are subjected indirectly to the action of heated air in circulation, as the sir coming in contact with the plaster Paris mold and cover causes these parts to draw moisture from the clay article.

I liave'shovvn one type of drier merely for illustration, but it will be understood that other types may be used, it found desirable, and the trays, with the casings, may be located in ordinary drying rooms without the use of conveyers.

In F ig. l. I have shown the cover plate 4- made detachable` from the ring 3, but the two may be connected, it found desirable. The ring, instead of being made of met-al, may be made of plaster Paris, and may be made integral with the cover plate. The parts may be reinforced, if desired, as shown at 11, Fig. 7.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illust-rated a modification, in 'which the casing is made in two parts 2 and 2b, and the cover plate is attached to the ring. These parts are connected by hinges 12. By this construction, the movable section can be raised when it is desired to place an article within the casing or to remove it. from the casing.

In Fig. 6. I have shown the casing made in two sections 2c and 2d, pivotally connected at the rear. Other forms of enclosing casings may be used without departing from the. spirit of the invention.

By my invention I can uniformly dry clay articles and eliminate the hard surface which forms when the article is exposed to the currents of heated air. I also eliminate discoloration of the surface and cracks and warping. Furthermore.l the enclosing casing protects the ware from dirt and other foreign particles while it is being dried.

I find that by the use of the enclosing casing the surface of the clay not in contact with the mold while being dried has a fine and soft texture. By the use of the enclosing casing. I can carry the articles through a. drying chamber by means of a conveyer in which the temperature of thc hot air in circulation is greater than the temperature used in drying clay articles by the old method.`

While I have shown a band of flexible material on the ringsection of the casing hearing against the edge of the mold so as to make substantially an air-tight joint. in drying some grades of clay articles a close fitting connection is not necessary and the band may be dispensed with` and it will be understood that the joint section may be modified without departing from the main features ot the invention.

In some instances, the casing may be made. to cover more than one article` particularly when the device is used in connection with a tray carried by a conveyer. My invention can also be applied to drying cla;1 articles that are not carried b v a mold. the casing enclosing the article placed on the tray.

I claim:

l. The process herein described of drying clay articles, said process consisting in forming the article on a mold of absorbent material, then placing the mold with the article thereon in a casing having an absorbent cover, and then subjecting the parts to the action of air, whereby moisture may be withdrawn from the surfaces ot the clay article being dried.

2. The process herein described of drying clay articles, said process consisting in forming an article on a plaster Paris mold, enclosing the article and the mold within a casing having an absorbent cover, said casing fitting the edge of the mold, a portion of said casing being of plaster Paris, and then subjecting the parts to the action of heat. said plaster Paris mold and cover abs orbing the moisture formed on the surfaces of the clay article being dried.

3. In combination, a tray, a mold of absorbent material positioned on the tray, an article formed on the mold having one surface covered thereby and the other exposed, and a casing enclosing said mold and article and having one portion thereof disposed immediately adjacent to said exposed surface, said portion being of an absorbent ma.- terial.

4. In combination, va tra a mold of absorbent material positione on the tray, an article formed on the mold having one surface covered thereby and the other expose and a casing enclosing said mold and article and having one portion thereof dis osed immediately adjacent to said expose surface, said portion being of an absorbent material, said tray having a plurality of perforations, providing for the circulation of heated air around past the uncovered surface of said mold.

5. In an apparatus for drying clay bodies the combination with a tray, of a mold of absorbent. material supported on said tray yand having portions spaced therefrom forming air spaces between the tray and the mold. said tray having perforations opening in said air spaces. an article positioned on the mold having one surface covered thereby and the other exposed. and a casing enclosing the said article. the portion of said casing immediately adjacent to said exposed surface being of an absorbent material.

6. In an apparatus for drying clay bodies, the combination with a mold of absorbent material. of an article formed thereon having one surface covered by said mold and the other exposed. and a casing adapted to cover said exposed surface in such manner as to form an air space therebetween, said casing having a portion ot an absorbent materia, the dimension of said air space being such that said surfaces dry uniformly when sub- `jccted to heat.

7. In combination. an article having opposite surfaces to be treated, absorbent materials positioned in engagement with and article` to be treated, a metallic ring embracl0 ing the neriphery of said mold, said ring having one end closed by said tray, and a. cover plate of absorbent material for closing the other end thereof, whereby moisture formed on said article, when the same is 15 heated, may be removed.

vJOSEPH L` BUCKLEY. 

